7 Easy DIY Autumn Home Accents

Save a bunch this season with these simple decorating projects

By Jean Nayar

Odds are good that you'll be hosting a family get-together or throwing a dinner party this season. Make your house look amazing with a cheerful, easy-to-make accent that plays off autumn’s rich colors. Each of the seven seasonally themed projects below won't cost you a lot of time or money—they just look like they do.

1. Woodland Potpourri

Freshen the air and brighten the ambience with a homemade potpourri that smells heavenly and is beautiful, too. Mix zesty cinnamon sticks and cloves with rose hips, cedar shavings, allspice and bay leaves, then toss gently with a few drops of pine and evergreen essential oils and ground cinnamon for a lasting aroma.

Photo by Matthew Mead.

2. Thanksgiving Garland

Commonly used in fall arrangements, Chinese lantern plants serve as the vibrant foundation of this rustic Thanksgiving garland. If you can't find these plants at your local florist, get great faux Chinese lantern plants at Etsy.com (or your local crafts store). Twist sprigs of the lanterns together with floral wire. Glue clothespins coated with glitter paint to the garland every 6 to 10 inches. Then encourage guests to write down the things they’re grateful for on cardstock and clip it to the garland for all to see.

Photo by Deborah Ory.

3. Harvest Wreath

Add sparkle to a simple grapevine wreath by lightly spraying it with gold glitter paint and weaving in sprigs of Chinese lantern plants. Adorn with a satin ribbon bow and hang in front of a mirror, using florist’s wire to make a hanging loop at top.

Photo by Deborah Ory.

4. Falling Leaves Fringe

A collection of cutout paper leaves brightens a window with seasonal flourish. Trace an array of fallen leaves onto gold parchment paper, cut out the shapes and punch holes along the center of the leaves from stem to tip—about 1/2 inch apart. Cut a 2- to 3-inch length of gold cord and thread it through the holes, knotting a gold bead at the end near the tip of the leaf. Tape the other end at the top of the window frame. Repeat with several more leaf cutouts to complete the festive fringe.

Photo by Deborah Ory.

5. Acorn-Adorned Placecards

Charming leaf-shaped placecards will make guests smile as they look for their seats. To make the cards, trace a leaf shape onto gold parchment paper, cut out, and inscribe a guest’s name with a metallic pen. Punch a hole near the leaf’s stem, thread a strand of slim ribbon through the hole, slip on a pair of acorn ornaments and tie to the top of the chair.

Photo by Deborah Ory.

6. Leaf-Motif Napkin and Table Runner

Enrich an autumn table setting with napkins and a runner that reflect the season. Use a leaf-shaped stencil and fabric paint to add a motif to the corner of each napkin. Craft an autumn-inspired table runner by tracing leaves on felt in a range of fall hues, then cut out and stitch or glue randomly together to form a 6-inch-long by 13-inch-wide swath to lay atop the table. Use extra felt leaves as coasters.

Photo by Deborah Ory.

7. Autumn Arrangement

Just as brilliant as autumn leaves is a centerpiece of roses, artichokes and ti leaves (available at WholeBlossoms.com). Start by placing a plastic container in a footed terra-cotta pot, then nestle stems of wire vine into the bottom of the container to secure the blooms. Cut and insert flowers, tuck in long stemmed artichokes and folded ti leaves stapled to floral picks, fill out with a few more stems of wire vine, then add water. Can't find long-stemmed artichokes? Substitute a similar produce, like cabbage, and poke through the base with florist’s wire, or get artificial ones at PYOB.com or CrateandBarrel.com.

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